By Makutu Manneh
The Gambia Immigration Department (GID) says it intercepted 47 suspected irregular migrants, including three alleged smugglers and sailors, in separate operations in Bakau and Tanji on Saturday.
In the first operation, conducted in Bakau on Oct. 3, personnel from the Border Patrol Unit and the Migration Management Unit stationed in Tanji intercepted 35 suspected would-be migrants.
The group included three people suspected of involvement in migrant smuggling and sailing operations—one Gambian and two Senegalese nationals.
According to the GID, those intercepted comprised eight Gambians, 26 Senegalese, and one Malian. The group included 24 males and 11 females, with one minor among them.
Later Saturday, the same units, supported by partners under the COP-2 Project, carried out a second operation in Tanji, intercepting 12 additional suspected would-be migrants.
The second group comprised three Gambians, six Senegalese, two Guineans, and one Bissau-Guinean, all male.
“All intercepted individuals, including the alleged smugglers, are currently in custody in Tanji, assisting officers with investigations,” the GID said.
The department said the operations were part of its continuing efforts to combat irregular migration, disrupt migrant-smuggling and human-trafficking networks, and strengthen border management.
Comments are closed.